Faux Lashes and Doing Them Right!

Have you always dreamed of batting your thickly lash-laden eyes, evocatively and with a dramatic effect that will have your subject quickly melting into a pool of liquid sugar? Have you looked with envy at all the models and stars spanning the pages of magazines and in film and TV, imagining that you somehow were omitted that fateful day? You know, the day when the lash fairy went down the line with her fairy lash-wand, tap, tap tapping one after another eyelid to produce an instantaneous sprouting of triple volume lash thickness and length along her way–NOT. OK, first, hate to break it to you but there’s no lash fairy. There was never a lineup, and thick eyelashes are–get ready for this one–more than likely always going to turn out to be faux lashes that were purchased, taken home and glued onto those lids. The thing is, the whole trick is in doing them the right way. Have you ever been in conversation with someone who has a small but highly noticeable lash section that either never received glue or became unfairly dislodged? OK, first of all–it’s pretty reasonable to assume that she knows it. She’s either still trying to decide what to do about it, or she’s waiting for her turn in the single stall ladies’ room, but she knows. Chances are, it’s bothering you a whole lot more than it’s bothering her. The sad part is that when this type of thing occurs, there is no getting around the fact that A–Your lash needs to be fixed or both need to be removed, and B–Now the world will know those gorgeous lashes weren’t really yours and C–They’ll be checking your eyes a lot more closely from here on, to detect the presence or absence of false/ fake/ faux lashes.

It’s All in the Name
The most injurious moniker being “fake,” “false” offers a little softening power, and “faux” actually gives the whole concept a rather European flavor that makes you want some. Like you’re sure that Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve and–oh yes, Kim Kardashian–who assures her avid followers via TV that she does not wear “falsies.” oh-K! A rose by any other name here, no, what you see on Ms. K.’s excessively lashed lids are mink extensions, which, by the way, you can have yourself, for a mere investment of one hour’s time and around $500. The reason they take so long is that they’re put on ONE LASH AT A TIME. If you’re willing to forego the mink, you can compromise down to synthetic ones for around $40- $50. The mink version is said to hang in there for you for up to three months, if you are careful with them. Of course, it is always highly likely that Kanye’s leading lady claims “no falsies” because she went full-in, for the eyelash transplant surgery that runs around $5K. What you should take away from these salon-applied methods is that they’re probably going to look really good, for some undetermined period of time.

The Home How-To
Becoming a thickly lashed woman would require wearing them from now on, and that could get rather pricey at a salon, so you can do them at home, and for a fraction of the cost. Getting the whole process down requires a little practice, and it is imperative that you place the strip style just as close to your lash line as possible, and then when the glue is dry, apply a generous layer of liquid liner on top. This blurs the spot of attachment nicely and can serve as a little glue support when dry. Now, the individual lashes are totally more natural in appearance.

The Strips
Today’s faux lashes are lighter, and you can specify shape, style, color and length. Some come with their own built-in eyeliner strip, which makes the gluing process a lot easier–as there’s a larger area to be glued to the lid. The only negative is that you’re going to be more aware of this type, with a bigger base. Make sure to follow each brand’s specific trimming instructions, as lashes trimmed poorly just won’t. Some kits come with multi-pairs, and some include glue, while some don’t. For daywear, avoid jet black, which is fine for evenings.

The Singles
Individually applied lashes cannot be differentiated from the real thing, BUT they come in different lengths all in one kit, and ultimately it’s up to you to choose where to place the long ones, medium and short ones. Some kits supply suggestions. They take a little extra time, but they look gorgeous and natural. They’re so light you won’t know you’re wearing them and, best of all–that extra time you might spend applying them pays off in big dividends, because they stay put for up to two weeks–wink, wink!